Marion County, Illinois

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.1 | 36,673 people · 16th most distressed in Illinois
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Marion County, IL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.1 — 1394th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Illinois, it ranks 16th of 102 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marion County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 78.4 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 78.4
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Legal Distress 72.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Housing Cost Burden 52.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 52
Homeownership Rate 50
Consumer Credit Distress 45.4
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 65
Economic Vitality 40.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 23

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, IL 53.1 Elevated —
Jefferson County, IL 54.8 Elevated +1.7
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal -12.4
Wayne County, IL 38.4 Normal -14.7
Clay County, IL 30.9 Healthy -22.2
Clinton County, IL 26.9 Healthy -26.2
Washington County, IL 19.8 Healthy -33.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Stone County, AR 53.1 Elevated 0.0
Seneca County, NY 53.1 Elevated -0.0
Amelia County, VA 53.1 Elevated +0.0
Accomack County, VA 53.0 Elevated -0.0
Vernon County, MO 53.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Marion County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Marion County

Find an Attorney

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-922-8757

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Marion County residents at no cost.

Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Legal Aid Chicago (formerly LAF) 312-341-1070
Land of Lincoln Legal Aid 217-525-7151
Prairie State Legal Services 1-800-531-7057
Illinois State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-922-8757

Self-Help Resources

Illinois Legal Aid Online — Foreclosure Comprehensive self-help guides for Illinois foreclosure
IHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs and housing counselor referrals

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Illinois →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Marion County, Illinois?

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 53.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,394th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Illinois out of 102 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 78.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (53.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jefferson County, IL (54.8); Fayette County, IL (40.7); Wayne County, IL (38.4).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Marion County's score of 53.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Marion County's CDI score?

    Marion County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Marion County?

    Marion County, Illinois has a population of approximately 36,673 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.